With more newsagents selling their distribution businesses to concentrate on retail, it would be timely for newspaper publishers, magazine distributors and newsagents to establish a working party to consider how to make the transition smoother and fairer.
I was talking with a colleague yesterday about magazine supply problems following the sale of their distribution business. A month after the sale they continue to be supplied magazines as if they still have the 20+ sub agents they used to service. Phone calls, emails and other communication through the magazine distributor channels from prior to the sale has failed to result in any meaningful change to their supply. This is clearly an unsustainable situation.
It would be easy to identify the stock supplied to sun agents. Indeed, the magazine distributors have this already given the IT standards they established with newsagents years ago. So, quarantining sub agent supplied stock and supplying only what the retail business needs should be achievable. The breakdown appears to be in communication. Newsagent advice to the distributors appears fall on deaf ears.
Newsagents who have sold their distribution businesses could make a valuable contribution to the working party I propose. I know from my own experience that there are transition issues which could have been handled better had I been more aware in advance.
With more newsagents quitting distribution, this issue demands attention.
Where would I find distribution runs to take over for melbourne Victoria?
Stacey I would make contact with brokers who advertise newsagencies. Mark